Description

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Picture Courtesy: THEHINDU

Context

The 194 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) amended the International Health Regulations (IHR) in June 2024, which came into force in September 2025, introducing a new legal category called pandemic emergency.

What is a Pandemic Emergency?

A "pandemic emergency" is defined as a public health emergency of international concern caused by a communicable disease that:

Has, or is at high risk of having, wide geographical spread to and within multiple States;
Is exceeding, or is at high risk of exceeding, the capacity of health systems to respond in those States;
Is causing, or is at high risk of causing, serious social and/or economic disruption, including disruption to international traffic and trade;
Requires rapid, equitable, and enhanced coordinated international action, with whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches.

What is International Health Regulations (IHR)?

They are international legal instruments that govern how countries prevent and respond to the cross-border spread of disease and other public health risks.

The regulations are binding on 196 countries, including all 194 Member States of the WHO.

Under the IHR, countries known as "States Parties" have specific rights and obligations. These include:

Surveillance and detection: Countries must build and maintain the capacity to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health events.
National focal points: Each country must designate a "National IHR Focal Point" to serve as the official contact for all communications with the WHO.
Reporting requirements: Countries must report specific diseases and any potential public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC) to the WHO within 24 hours of assessment.
Public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC): Provide a framework for the WHO Director-General to declare a PHEIC, an extraordinary event that poses a public health risk and requires a coordinated international response.

Key Changes in the 2024 IHR Amendments

Introduction of "Pandemic Emergency"

Creates a tiered alert system (PHEIC as the base, pandemic emergency as the highest alert) to trigger a more urgent and coordinated international response for the most severe threats.

Commitment to Equity and Solidarity

Amendments legally enshrine principles of equity, obligating WHO and member states to ensure fair access to health products like vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments during health emergencies.

Coordinating Financial Mechanism

A new mechanism will be established to help developing countries in building and maintaining the core public health capacities required by the IHR.

States Parties Committee

A committee of member states will be created to facilitate the effective implementation of the regulations.

Respect for National Sovereignty

Amendments state that Countries retain full sovereignty to implement public health measures based on their national laws and contexts.

Significance of the New Approach

Enhanced Speed and Clarity

Clear definition of a pandemic emergency aims to prevent delays in declaration and response, as seen during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing Inequity

By focusing on equitable access to health products and establishing a financial mechanism, the amendments aim to reduce disparities between developed and developing nations.

Strengthened Global Collaboration

Creation of national authorities and a dedicated States Parties Committee promotes better coordination to ensure that preparedness is a continuous and collaborative effort.

Building Resilience

By focusing on strengthening core capacities everywhere, the new rules aim to build a more resilient global health system capable of resisting the shock of future pandemics.

Conclusion

The adoption of the IHR amendments strengthens global pandemic preparedness, but effective implementation requires sustained political will and financial investment. Strong commitment and resources will ensure these obligations translate into tangible protection against future health threats.

Source: THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the recently amended International Health Regulations (IHR), consider the following statements:

The term "Pandemic Emergency" replaces the "Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)" as the highest level of global health alert.
A declaration of Pandemic Emergency is legally binding on all UN member states.
The amendments mandate the establishment of a National IHR Authority in each member state.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 3 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect. "Pandemic Emergency" is a new, higher level of alert, but it does not replace PHEIC. It is a specific, more severe type of PHEIC.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The IHR are legally binding on the 196 States Parties to the regulations, which include all WHO member states, not all UN members.

Statement 3 is correct. A key 2024 amendment is the requirement for countries to establish a National IHR Authority to coordinate the implementation of the regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A pandemic is a global epidemic of an infectious disease that spreads across multiple continents or worldwide. It's not determined by the severity of the disease but by its wide geographical spread.

The main goal is to prevent, prepare for, and equitably respond to future pandemics. This is achieved by strengthening international collaboration, especially concerning equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics.

"One Health" is a collaborative approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. It is central to the new regulations for addressing emerging diseases that originate at this interface.